International development, economics, politics, and policy

Main menu

Post navigation

An open letter to Senator Chuck Grassley from an Iowan high school student

31Mar2016

The argument many Republicans are making is that Barack Obama is a “lame duck” president, and, because “the people have not spoken,” he should not be allowed to nominate a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia.

However, you are running for reelection in Iowa this November. At that time, Iowans will go to the polls and their voice will be heard. Until then, who speaks for the people of Iowa? You, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, carry significant power in determining who gets to become the next Supreme Court Justice. But senator, since you, too, are in an election year, how can you possess the authority to make a decision that will affect the future of our country if “the people have not yet spoken”? Following the direction of the Republican’s logic, I politely ask you to step aside as chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee until the elections take place.

Boring and stupid. Everyone knows the GOP’s playing games here, thinking the odds of a Trump presidency are favorable enough for it to be worthwhile to stall. If Hillary wins, Garland might be confirmed before she’s inaugurated. Criticizing politics with principle is like criticizing Soviet propaganda with reports of people starving: it’s missing the point, and stupidly so.

And why assume a high school senior already capable independent thought would desire to undermine his human potential by going to Harvard in 2016? Hey Jack, exercise caution before hawking your keen mind over to institutions of acadamnica that have helped to further fuel our present political imbalance.

I'm a Professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. I use field work and statistics to study poverty, political engagement, the causes and consequences of violence, and policy in developing countries. [Read more]